15 replies to this topic

[BlackBob]

Railguns are the closest thing we got to weapons that dont need explosives. they have a muzzle speed of 3500 m/s or more for comparison, the M16 rifle has a muzzle speed of 975-1025 m/s. that makes them strong enough to make them pierce armor with regular bullets. they r the perfect gun. fires like a submachine gun with the accuracy of a shiper and is silent(except for the projectile).
http://upload.wikime...1/Railgun-1.png

[Whitey]

Yeah... I'm sure we have all known about this.

[Golan]

I´d really like to see the guy that can carry the power-generator for a "SMG-railgun".
Today, railguns are still bulky, power devouring first-class toasters. Whats the use of having a plastics projectile dig 10 cm in armor steel if the gun takes hours to recharge, requires an insane amount of maintenance and power, weights several tonnes just to ensure that it won´t shred itself [please insert random disadvantage of today´s railguns here]?

[typhoon2]

also most of the railguns that have been made break, after thier first use... possible the future weaponary yes, but a long way off if it is.

-typhoon2

[AllStarZ]

BlackBob, on 2 Sep 2006, 13:09, said:

Railguns are the closest thing we got to weapons that dont need explosives.

Bows. Crossbows. Slingshots. Jeez people, tighten your grip on the English language.

Anyways, there probably will be a technology to bridge the gap I suppose. An electrochemical weapon in which the bullet is propelled by explosive power ignited by electricity and whose velocity is further increased by the use of magnetic barrels.

[BillyChaka]

There are also non-gunpowder weapons. Like paintball gun-esque weapons. It's just that it shoots a different projectile, like a pepperball which irritates the mark.

[FB_Ice4s]

The railgun is realy promessing weapon concept, but non the less it's will need advanced materials to make a good, combat ready one. About the power supply, thats another tought one, but on larger vehicles such destroyer and carrier ( which ones can be nuclear powered ) will have it as soon as the right matterials awalable to produce such a gun.

And the other hand, coil guns also an interesting possibality, it is less powerful then the rail gun, but not suffer from special matterial needs that can vistand the gigantic forces and heat that rail guns need to.

FB_Ice4s

[Mathias]

Railguns won't be feasible until we find a material to use that will ensure that the rails aren't wrenched out of shape after every shot.

Coilguns are much more promising since the only real obstacle in their regard is high power needs.

[FB_Ice4s]

Coilguns aren't bad, but they have less effective power then the railguns. And as i know right it's have way smaller maximal launch speed then the railgun. Maybe some short of gattling gun type of solution could work, after each shot the rail is changed and let be cool down.

FB_Ice4s

[Mathias]

The problem isn't that the rails need to "cool down" the problem is that the rails are deformed by the force of the shot.

It could maybe be feasible to use some sort of giant cartridge containing both the solenoid and the rails, but, jeez, that would only work for battleship guns and only be enough for about 20 shots.

[Golan]

Railguns also build up extreme heat due to the high amperage. And there´s the problem that the magnetic field bends the rails (so that there´s not just the "recoil").

Coilguns aren´t that usefull either as they need to be 100% calibrated in order to not slow down the projectile when polarity is changed.

[FB_Ice4s]

Both tech have chalanges, but as always, we find a way to sold it. The heat what is realy deforming the rails. something would needed between the rail and the projactle that transfearing electrisity, but also largly reduce the friction, so it would less overheat, damage the rail it self.

The other way i could think about to make working this, by reducing the sise of the projactle so currant mattarials can take the massive forces that such a gun releash.

FB_Ice4s

Edited by FB_Ice4s, 04 September 2006 - 18:08.

[Mathias]

Nano materials might become the answer.

[̀̀̀̀█]

Hmmmm..... Not to say I am an expert.. But I do get intrigued by rail guns ( I made a really bad one for fun once) But couldn't they use "feather gel"? It would eliminaty all friction and still conduct electricity..... With some magnetic feilds set up around the gun, and a bit of presise timing, you could do wonders.... I think this is where this feild is headed....

Edited by pyrobob, 04 October 2006 - 21:00.

[Sgt. Nuker]

Precise timing is something that sounds like it'll need to be calibrated to suit the conditions outside and the weight of the projectile. If you ask me, that's something the military will want to do without.


Regards,

Major Nuker

[BlackBob]

i think that the rail gins have more of a chance in the military today. what we need is an extreamly durable metal or use carbon or nano technology